Information system and data access method

ABSTRACT

A data access method in an information system including a plurality of data utilization systems connected to a network N 1 , and a plurality of data provision systems connected to a network, wherein a data utilization system transmits a request for utilizing data in a data provision system to another data utilization system P 2  through the network N 1 , the data utilization system, upon receipt of the data utilization request, transmits a processing execution request corresponding to the data utilization request to the data provision system through the network N 2 , the data provision system, upon receipt of the execution request, executes processing corresponding to this execution request and transmits necessary data to the data provision system through the network, and the data provision system receives the data and stores the same.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/387,351 filed Mar. 11,2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,850,957, which claims foreign priority ofJapan 2002-067412 filed Mar. 12, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a data access method in an informationsystem, and an information system.

FIG. 7 illustrates a standard system configuration in a recentinformation system which is applied, for example, to businesses such asonline, accounting and the like in a bank, inventory control in atrading company, a logistics company or the like, seat reservation in arailway company or an airline company, and so forth.

A transaction-based system P2 and a transaction-based database D2connected thereto are used in routine operations which always requirehigh speed properties such as a high response, a high throughput and thelike, for example, an online service in a bank, acceptance and orderingof products, inventory control for products, accounting/finance, and thelike. OLTP (On-Line Transaction Processing) or the like is arepresentative example.

On the other hand, an information-based system P1 in the figure is usedin non-routine operations which are performed using data accumulated inthe transaction-based database such as transactions, log journal, andthe like, for example, an analysis on trends of product sales, atime-series transition of numbers of products in stock, an analysis onpurchase patterns, decision making support operations, and the like.Processing using OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) or the like is arepresentative example, in which case the information-based database D1functions as a data warehouse. The information-based system P1 andinformation-based database D1 generally have low requirements to realtime and high speed properties, as compared with the transaction-basedsystem P2 and transaction-based database D2.

These systems and databases are generally configured by ageneral-purpose machine, a PC server and the like in which OS and avariety of applications have been installed. The systems and databasescan be configured independently or in a combination of plural units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the information system, for example, when the information-basedsystem P1 utilizes data stored in the transaction-based database D2 foranalyzing transactions, the information-based system P1 must acquirenecessary data from the transaction-based database D2.

In such a case, the information-based system P1 first transmits arequest for utilizing necessary data to the transaction-based system P2through a network N1 (S710). Upon receipt of the request forutilization, the transaction-based system P2 acquires associated datafrom the transaction-based database D2 (S711), and transmits this to theinformation-based system P1 through the network N1 (S712). Theinformation-based system P1 receives the data which is stored in theinformation-based database D1 (S713).

Here, LAN, for example, is used as the network N1, wherein the datatransmission affects the traffic on the LAN, and affects othercommunications between the information-based system P1 andtransaction-based system P2. Also, during a transfer of the data,resources of the information-based system P1 and transaction-basedsystem P2 are consumed.

On the other hand, the degree of requirements for the real time and highspeed properties for each component of the information system such asthe information-based system P1, transaction-based system P2,information-based database D1, transaction-based database D2, and thelike generally vary over time from one system to anther and from onedatabase to another. Therefore, for efficiently operating theinformation system, relatively heavy processing such as a data transferis preferably performed in a time zone in which neither the real timeproperty nor the high speed property is required, from a view point ofthe management of the information system.

The present invention has been made from such a view point, and it is anobject of the invention to provide a data access method in aninformation system which is capable of more efficient operations, and aninformation system.

A principle invention of the present invention for achieving this objectis a data access method in an information system comprising a pluralityof data utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, and aplurality of data provision systems connected to the network N2,characterized in that:

a data utilization system P1 transmits a request for utilizing data in adata provision system D2 to another data utilization system P2 throughthe network N1, the data utilization system P2, upon receipt of the datautilization request, transmits a processing execution requestcorresponding to the data utilization request to the data provisionsystem D2 through the network N2, the data provision system D2, uponreceipt of the execution request, executes processing corresponding tothe execution request and transmits necessary data to another dataprovision system D1 through the network N2, and the data provisionsystem D1 receives the data and stores the same.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of embodiments of thepresent invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventionalinformation system;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary configuration of a data provision systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an example of an execution request sent from a datautilization system to a data provision system in the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary execution request and data sent from a dataprovision system to a data provision system in the present invention;and

FIG. 13 is exemplary processing executed in a data provision system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

At least the following aspects become apparent from the followingdisclosure.

A data access system in an information system comprising a plurality ofdata utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, and aplurality of data provision systems connected to the network N2,characterized in that a data utilization system P1 transmits a requestfor utilizing data in a data provision system D2 to another datautilization system P2 through the network N1, the data utilizationsystem P2, upon receipt of the data utilization request, transmits aprocessing execution request corresponding to the data utilizationrequest to the data provision system D2 through the network N2, the dataprovision system D2, upon receipt of the execution request, executesprocessing corresponding to the execution request and transmitsnecessary data to another data provision system D1 through the networkN2, and the data provision system D1 receives the data and stores thesame, and a data access system in an information system comprising aplurality of data utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2,and a plurality of data provision systems connected to the network N2,characterized in that a data utilization system P1 transmits a requestfor utilizing data in a data provision system D2 to another datautilization system P2 through the network N1, the data utilizationsystem P2, upon receipt of the data utilization request, transmits aprocessing execution request corresponding to the data utilizationrequest to the data provision system D2 through the network N2, the dataprovision system D2, upon receipt of the execution request, transmitsdata and the execution request to a data provision system D1 through thenetwork N2, and the data provision system D1 receives the executionrequest and the data, executes processing corresponding to the executionrequest, and stores necessary data.

Here, the data utilization system P1 is, for example, the aforementionedinformation-based system, and the data utilization system P2 is, forexample, the aforementioned transaction-based system. Also, the dataprovision system D1 is, for example, the aforementionedinformation-based database, and the data provision system D2 is, forexample, the aforementioned transaction-based database. Further, theedata provision systems may be implemented as a storage device system.

The network N1 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) in accordancewith the TCP/IP protocol, and the network N2 is, for example, a SAN(Storage Area Network) which is built using a fiber channel (FibreChannel) or the like.

According to this data access method, a data transfer is mainlyperformed by a communication between the data provision systems D1, D2through the network N2. Therefore, the data transfer hardly affects thetraffic on the network N1, and hardly consumes resources of the datautilization systems P1, P2.

A data access method in an information system comprising a plurality ofdata utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, a plurality ofdata provision systems connected to the network N2, and a requestmanagement center S connected to the network N1, which is characterizedin that a data utilization system P1 transmits a message for requestingutilization of data in a data provision system D2 to the requestmanagement center S through the network N1, the request managementcenter S, upon receipt of the message, transmits a data utilizationrequest corresponding to the message to a data utilization system P2through the network N1 at an appropriate timing, the data utilizationsystem P2, upon receipt of the data utilization request, transmits aprocessing execution request corresponding to the data utilizationrequest to the data provision system D2 through the network N2, the dataprovision system D2, upon receipt of the execution request, executesprocessing corresponding to the execution request and transmitsnecessary data to the data provision system D1 through the network N2,and the data provision system D1 receives the data and stores the same,and a data access method in an information system comprising a pluralityof data utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, a pluralityof data provision systems connected to the network N2, and a requestmanagement center S connected to the network N1, which is characterizedin that a data utilization system P1 transmits a message for requestingutilization of data in a data provision system D2 to the requestmanagement center S through the network N1, the request managementcenter S, upon receipt of the message, transmits a data utilizationrequest corresponding to the message to a data utilization system P2through the network N1 at an appropriate timing, the data utilizationsystem P2, upon receipt of the data utilization request, transmits aprocessing execution request corresponding to the data utilizationrequest to the data provision system D2 through the network N2, the dataprovision system D2, upon receipt of the execution request, transmitsdata and the execution request to the data provision system D1 throughthe network N2, and the data provision system D1 receives the executionrequest and the data, executes processing corresponding to the executionrequest, and stores necessary data.

In this data access method, a message from the data utilization systemP1 is transmitted to the request management center S, and the requestmanagement center S transmits a data utilization request correspondingto the message to the data utilization system P2 at an appropriatetiming. Here, if the appropriate timing is within a time zone in which ahigh real time property or high speed property is not required, forexample, for the data utilization system P2, a main operation performedby the information system is less affected, thereby permitting anefficient operation of the information system.

A data access method in an information system comprising one or moredata utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, a plurality ofdata provision systems connected to the network N2, and an accessintermediation center connected to networks N2 and N3, which ischaracterized in that the access intermediation center, upon receipt ofan access request through the network N3, transmits a processingexecution request corresponding to the access request to a dataprovision system D1 through the network N2, the data provision systemD1, upon receipt of the execution request, executes processingcorresponding to the execution request and transmits necessary data to adata provision system D0 through the network N2, and the data provisionsystem D0 receives the data and stores the same.

Here, the network N3 is, for example, the Internet, and the accessintermediation center is, for example, a Web server on the Internetwhich has a database association function (in the following description,referred to as a “channel-based system).

In this data access method, for example, when the access intermediationcenter wishes to utilize data, for example, in the data provision systemD1 which is the aforementioned information-based database, data to beutilized is copied to the data provision system D0 (in the followingdescription, referred to as a “channel-based database”) to utilize thecopied data in the data provision system D0. In this way, a load givento the data provision system D1 can be reduced when the accessintermediation center utilizes data in the data provision system D1,thereby permitting an efficient operation of the information system.

A data access method in an information system comprising one or moredata utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, a plurality ofdata provision systems connected to the network N2, an accessintermediation center connected to networks N2 and N3, and a requestmanagement center S connected to the network N2, which is characterizedin that the access intermediation center receives an access requestthrough the network N3, and transmits a message for requestingutilization of data in a data provision system D2 to the requestmanagement center S through the network N1, the request managementcenter S, upon receipt of the message, transmits a processing executionrequest corresponding to the message to a data provision system D2 at anappropriate timing, the data provision system D2, upon receipt of theexecution request, executes processing corresponding to the executionrequest and transmits necessary data to a data provision system throughthe network N2, and the data provision system D1 receives the data andstores the same.

In this data access method, a message from the access intermediationcenter is transmitted to the request management center S, and therequest management center S transmits a processing execution requestcorresponding to the message to the data provision system D1 at anappropriate timing. Here, if the appropriate timing is within a timezone in which a high real time property or a high speed property is notrequired, for example, for the data provision system D1, a main serviceprovided by the information system is less affected, thereby permittingan efficient operation of the information system.

A data access method in an information system comprising a plurality ofdata utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, a plurality ofdata provision systems connected to the network N2, and an accessintermediation center connected to networks N1, N2 and N3, which ischaracterized in that the access intermediation center receives anaccess request through the network N3, and transmits a request forutilizing data in a data provision system D2 to a data provision systemP1 through the network N1, the data utilization system P1, upon receiptof the data utilization request, transmits a request for utilizing datain the data provision system D2 to another data utilization system P2through the network N1, the data utilization system P2, upon receipt ofthe data utilization request, transmits a processing execution requestcorresponding to the data utilization request to the data provisionsystem D2 through the network N2, the data provision system D2, uponreceipt of the execution request, executes processing corresponding tothe execution request and transmits necessary data to a data provisionsystem D0 through the network N2, and the data provision system D0receives the data and stores the same. The data provision system D2generates the necessary data, for example, in association with the otherdata provision system through the network N2 in the processing of theexecution request.

In this data access method, for example, when the access intermediationcenter wishes to utilize data, for example, in the data provision systemD1 which is the aforementioned information-based database, data to beutilized, which is eventually extracted by an associative operation ofthe data utilization systems P1, P2 and data provision system D1, D2, iscopied to the data provision system D0 to utilize the copied data in thedata provision system D0. In this way, a load given to the dataprovision system D1 can be reduced when the access intermediation centerutilizes data in the data provision system D1, thereby permitting anefficient operation of the information system. Also, the accessintermediation center can set up data of a nature which could not beotherwise provided without association of the data utilization systemsP1, P2 and data provision systems D1, D2, in the data provision systemD0 only through a single transmission of a data utilization request.Specific example of the data having the nature as mentioned above isdata associated with totalization which cannot be available before it isprocessed, such as bill data, payment data and the like.

A data access method in an information system comprising a one or moredata utilization systems connected to networks N1 and N2, a plurality ofdata provision systems connected to the network N2, an accessintermediation center connected to networks N1, N2 and N3, and a requestmanagement center S connected to the network N1, characterized in thatthe access intermediation center receives an access request through thenetwork N3, and transmits a message for requesting utilization of datain a data provision system corresponding to the access request to therequest management center S through the network N1, the requestmanagement center S, upon receipt of the message, transmits a datautilization request corresponding to the message to a data utilizationsystem through the network N1 at an appropriate timing, the datautilization system, upon receipt of the data utilization request,transmits a processing execution request corresponding to the datautilization request to a data provision system through the network N2,the data provision system, upon receipt of the execution request,executes processing corresponding to the execution request and transmitsnecessary data to another data provision system through the network N2,and the other data provision system receives the data and stores thesame.

In this data access method, a message from the access intermediationcenter is transmitted to the request management center S, and therequest management center S transmits a data utilization requestcorresponding to the message to the data utilization system at anappropriate timing. Here, if the appropriate timing is within a timezone in which a high real time property or a high speed property is notrequired, for example, for the data utilization system and dataprovision system, a main service provided by the information system isless affected, thereby permitting an efficient operation of theinformation system. Also, the access intermediation center can set updata in the data provision system D0 only through a single transmissionof a data utilization request.

The processing executed by the data provision system corresponding tothe execution request includes any processing of search, update,deletion and filtering of data in the data provision system. The dataprovision system which is requested to permit utilization of datatherein from another system is a system which requires, for example, areal time property or a high speed property. The data utilization systemP2 is, for example, a system which requires a higher real time propertythan the data utilization system P1.

The request management center S manages the received messages, forexample, in accordance with a queuing scheme, and transmits a datautilization request corresponding to each of the messages to the datautilization system or the data provision system associated therewith inaccordance with a FIFO scheme.

The request management center S, for example, stores the receivedmessages, receives information indicating whether or not the datautilization system or data provision system is ready for accepting aprocessing request form the request management center S from the datautilization system or data provision system, and determines whether ornot a data utilization request corresponding to the stored messageshould be transmitted based on the information.

The request management center S stores the messages, receives aprocessing completion notice for a data utilization requestcorresponding to a certain message, and then transmits a data requestcorresponding to another one of the stored messages.

The request management center S also transmits the execution request orthe data utilization request in accordance with an operating situationof the data utilization system or the data provision system.

The message includes identification information, wherein the requestmanagement center S stores a correspondence of the identificationinformation to one or more of the data utilization systems and dataprovision systems. Upon receipt of the message, the request managementcenter S compares the identification information included in the messagewith the correspondence to transmit the data utilization request or theexecution request to the data utilization system or the data provisionsystem corresponded to the identification information.

The access intermediation center transmits a message, a data utilizationrequest or a processing execution request corresponding to the accessrequest in accordance with an operating situation of the datautilization system or the data provision system.

The message includes identification information, wherein the accessintermediation center stores a correspondence of the identificationinformation to one or more of the data utilization systems and dataprovision systems. Upon receipt of the access request, the accessintermediation center compares the identification information includedin the access request with the correspondence to transmits the messageor the processing execution request to the data provision systemcorresponded to the identification information. The identificationinformation is, for example, information which identifies a source ofthe access request.

In the foregoing description, the terms “utilization system” and“provision system” are merely used for convenience, and a datautilization system may have a feature of providing data to othersystems, while a data provision system may have a feature of utilizingdata in other systems.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem which is described as a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

A network N1 comprises, for example, a LAN or the like, as mentionedabove, while a network N2 comprises, for example, a SAN or the like.While it is assumed in FIG. 1 that the network N1 is used forcontrolling a small amount of data at a low speed and a low cost, andthe network N2 is used for transmitting a large amount of data at a highspeed and a high cost, the networks are not necessarily limited to thosespecifications.

An information-based system P1 and a transaction-based system P2 arerespectively connected to both the networks N1 and N2. Aninformation-based database D1 and a transaction-based database D2 areconnected to the network N2. Specific examples of functions and roles ofeach system are similar to the foregoing.

Description will be made on processing performed in this informationsystem when the information-based system P1 needs data in a dataprovision system D2.

First, the information-based system P1 transmits a request for utilizingdata in the data provision system D2 to the transaction-based system P2through the network N1. In this event, the information-based system P1has been previously registered with information indicative of thetransaction-based system P2, as a destination to which a utilizationrequest is transmitted, by a manager or the like (S110). On the otherhand, the transaction-based system P2, which receives the datautilization request, transmits a processing execution request (S111)corresponding to the data utilization request to the transaction-baseddatabase D2 through the network N2. Here, the execution request mayinclude any of processing such as a search, update, delete andfiltering, by way of example. The transaction-based system P2 alsodetermines a destination to which the execution request is transferredbased on information indicative of a data provision system included inthe received utilization request.

Upon receipt of the execution request, the data provision system D2executes the processing corresponding to the execution request, andtransmits necessary data to the data provision system D1 through thenetwork N2 (S112).

Upon receipt of the data, the information-based database D1 stores thedata. Subsequently, the information-based system P1 accesses theinformation-based database D1 to utilize the data stored therein.

In this processing, the data transfer from the transaction-baseddatabase D2 to the information-based database D1 is mainly performedthrough the network N2. Also, since the data transfer is performedmainly between the information-based database D1 and transaction-baseddatabase D2, no resources of the information-based system P1 andtransaction-based system P2 will be consumed during the data transfer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the informationsystem P1 which is described as a second embodiment of the presentinvention. The configuration in FIG. 2 is basically the same as that ofthe first embodiment except that a request management center S isconnected to the network N1.

Description will be made on the operation of the information system whenthe information-based system P1 needs data in the data provision systemD2, as is the case with the first embodiment.

First, the information-based system P1 transmits a message forrequesting utilization of data in the transaction-based database D2 tothe request management center S through the network N1. In this event,the information-based system P1 has previously stored information suchas an address indicative of the request management center, to which themessage is to be transmitted, by a user or the like (S210). Upon receiptof the message, the request management center S transmits a datautilization request corresponding to the message to thetransaction-based system P2 through the network N1. In this event, therequest management center S determines a destination to which theutilization request is transferred in accordance with informationincluded in the message (S211).

Upon receipt of the data utilization request, the transaction-basedsystem P2 transmits a processing execution request corresponding to thedata utilization request to the transaction-based database D2 throughthe network N2 (S212). Here, the execution request may include any ofprocessing such as a search, update, delete and filtering, by way ofexample.

Upon receipt of the execution request, the transaction-based database D2executes the processing corresponding to the execution request, andtransmits necessary data to the information-based database D1 throughthe network N2 (S213).

Upon receipt of the data, the information-based database D1 stores thedata. Subsequently, the information-based system P1 accesses theinformation-based database D1 to utilize the data stored therein.

In the foregoing processing, the request management center S receives amessage from the information-based system P1. Also, as described later,the request management center S can store messages, and the requestmanagement center S monitors the transaction-based system P2 andtransaction-based database D2 for operating conditions, and transmits adata utilization request (S211) to the transaction-based system P2, forexample, when the transaction-based system P2 and transaction-baseddatabase D2 have small processing loads. Therefore, the informationsystem P1 is operated in an efficient manner.

Also, in the processing of this embodiment, a data transfer from thetransaction-based database D2 to the information-based database D1 ismainly performed through the network N2. Therefore, the traffic will notbe increased on the network N1. Also, since the data transfer is mainlyperformed between the information-based database D1 andtransaction-based database D2, no resources of the information-basedsystem P1 and transaction-based system P2 will be consumed during thedata transfer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem which is described as a third embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3 additionally comprises a channel-based database D0which is one of data provision systems connected to the network N2, anaccess intermediation center P0 connected to the network N2 and networkN3, and a terminal T connected to a network N3, in addition to theconfiguration of the first embodiment.

The network N3 is, for example, the Internet, and the terminal T is, forexample, a computer connected to the Internet. The access intermediationcenter P0 is a device such as a Web server which responds to an accessrequest sent from the terminal T connected to the network N3 bytransmitting a Web page and the like to the terminal T. For example,when an access is made from the terminal T through the Internet, theaccess intermediation center P0 extracts data from the information-baseddatabase D1 and transaction-based database D2, and edits the contentsfor transmission to the terminal T.

In the following, description will be made on a process which isperformed when the access intermediation center P0 receives an accessrequest sent from the terminal T, from a search in the information-baseddatabase D1 for information required for a response to the request to atransmission of data describing the result to the terminal T.

First, upon receipt of an access request from the terminal T through thenetwork N3 (S310), the access intermediation center P0 transmits aprocessing execution request corresponding to the access request to theinformation-based database D1 through the network N2 (S311).

Upon receipt of the execution request, the information-based database D1executes the processing corresponding to the execution request, andtransmits necessary data to the channel-based database D0 through thenetwork N2 (S312). Here, the execution request may include any ofprocessing such as a search, update, delete and filtering, by way ofexample.

The channel-based database D0 receives the data and stores the same. Inthis way, the channel-based system P0 can utilize data in theinformation-based database D1 by accessing the channel-based databaseD0, and the channel-based system P0 utilizes the data to generateresponse information to the terminal T, and describes the responseinformation, for example, on a Web page for transmission.

Thus, in the foregoing processing, the channel-based system P0 accessesthe channel-based database D0 to perform the processing which should beessentially performed by accessing the information-based database D1.Therefore, a processing load burdened on the information-based databaseD1 is minimized to efficiently operate the information system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem which is described as a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 additionally comprises a request management center Sconnected to the network N2 in addition to the configuration of thethird embodiment.

The request management center S stores a message sent from the accessintermediation center P0, and monitors the information-based database D1for an operating condition to transmit a data utilization request whenthe information-based database D1 has a small processing load. In thefollowing, a feature of this embodiment will be described in detail.

Upon receipt of an access request from the terminal T through thenetwork N3 (S410), the access intermediation center P0 transmits amessage for requesting utilization of data in the information-baseddatabase D1 to the request management center S through the network N1(S411).

Upon receipt of the message, the request management center S transmits aprocessing execution request corresponding to the message to theinformation-based database D1 (S412). Here, the execution request mayinclude any of processing such as a search, update, delete andfiltering, by way of example.

Upon receipt of the execution request, the information-based database D1executes the processing corresponding to the execution request, andtransmits necessary data to the channel-based database D0 through thenetwork N2 (S413). The information-based database D1 receives the dataand stores the same.

After the foregoing processing, the channel-based system P0 can accessthe channel-based database D0 to utilize data in the information-baseddatabase D1. The channel-based system utilizes the data to treat, forexample, a Web page for transmission to the terminal T.

In the foregoing processing, the request management center S receives amessage from the information-based system P1. Also, as described later,the request management center S can store messages. Further, the requestmanagement center S monitors the information-based database D1 for anoperating condition to transmit a data utilization request to thechannel-based database D0, for example, when the information-baseddatabase D1 has a small processing load. Therefore, the informationsystem is operated in an efficient manner.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a data utilizationsystem which is described as a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

The configuration in FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3. In this embodiment,when the channel-based system P0 receives an access request from theterminal T through the network N3 and needs data in thetransaction-based database D2 or information-based database D1 forresponding to the access request, a data utilization request istransmitted from the channel-based system P0 to the information-basedsystem P1. In the following, a feature of this embodiment will bedescribed in detail.

First, upon receipt of an access request through the network N3 (S510),the access intermediation center P0 transmits a request for utilizingdata in the transaction-based database D2 to the information-basedsystem P1 through the network N1 (S511).

Upon receipt of the data utilization request, the information-basedsystem P1 transmits the request for utilizing data in thetransaction-based database D2 to the transaction-based system P2 throughthe network N1 (S512).

Upon receipt of the data utilization request, the transaction-basedsystem P2 transmits a processing execution request corresponding to thedata utilization request to the transaction-based database D2 throughthe network N2 (S513). Upon receipt of the execution request, thetransaction-based database D2 executes the processing corresponding tothe execution request, and transmits necessary data to the channel-baseddatabase D0 through the network N2 (S514). The channel-based database D0receives the data and stores the same.

In the processing of the execution request, the transaction-baseddatabase D2 generates the necessary data in association with theinformation-based database D1 as required through the network N2. Inthis event, the necessary data may be transmitted from theinformation-based database D1 to the channel-based database D0, ratherthan from the transaction-based database D2 (S515, S516). Suchassociation is required, for example, when the information-baseddatabase D1 needs to acquire data extracted from the transaction-baseddatabase D2 before data is extracted from the information-based databaseD1.

Also, as the transaction-based database D2 and information-baseddatabase D1 complete the processing corresponding to the data transferinstruction request and processing request, they notify thetransaction-based system P2 and information-based system P1 to thateffect as required through the network N2. Then, the transaction-basedsystem P2 and information-based system P1, which receive thenotification, notifies the channel-based system P0 that the processinghas been completed for the data utilization request through the networkN1 and the like. In this way, the channel-based system P0 recognizesthat the processing corresponding to the data utilization requestmessage has been completed.

Incidentally, in the foregoing processing, a data transfer from thetransaction-based database D2 to the information-based database D1, anda data transfer from the information-based database D1 to thechannel-based database D0 are performed through the network N2 which issuited to high speed, large amount data communications. For this reason,the traffic will not be increased on the network N1.

Also, since the data transfer is basically performed between therespective databases, resources of the information-based system P1 andtransaction-based system P2 will not be consumed during the datatransfer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a data utilizationsystem which is described as a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention. While the configuration in FIG. 6 is similar to theconfiguration in FIG. 4, they differ in that a request management centerS connected to the network N1 is provided.

In this embodiment, when the channel-based system P1 receives an accessrequest which involves utilization of the transaction-based database D2or information-based database D1 from the terminal T through the networkN3, the channel-based system P0 does not directly access the database byitself, but it transmits a message to the request management center S,such that the request management center S requests the transaction-basedsystem P2 or information-based system P1 for processing. In thefollowing, a feature of this embodiment will be described in detail.

Upon receipt of an access request through the network N3 (S610), theaccess intermediation center P0 transmits a message for requestingutilization of data in the transaction-based database D2 orinformation-based database D1 to the request management center S throughthe network N1 (S611).

Upon receipt of the message, the request management center S transmits adata utilization request corresponding to the message to thetransaction-based system P2 or information-based system P1 through thenetwork N1 (S612). Upon receipt of the data utilization request, thetransaction-based system P2 or information-based system P1 transmits aprocessing execution request corresponding to the data utilizationrequest to the transaction-based database D2 or information-baseddatabase D1 through the network N2 (S613). To which system the datautilization request is transmitted, and to which database the executionrequest is transmitted depend on particular information systems.

Upon receipt of the execution request, the transaction-based database D2or information-based database D1 executes the processing correspondingto the execution request, and transmits necessary data to thechannel-based database D0 through the network N2 (S614). The associationof database is also performed as required.

The channel-based database D0 receives the data and stores the same. Inthis way, the channel-based system P0 can access the channel-baseddatabase D0 to utilize data in the information-based database D1. Thechannel-based system P0 utilizes the data to generate responseinformation to the terminal, and describes it, for example, in a Webpage for transmission.

As the transaction-based database D2 or information-based database D1completes the processing corresponding to the data transfer instructionrequest and processing request, it notifies the transaction-based systemP2 or information-based system P1 to that effect as required through thenetwork N2 or the like (S615). Further, upon receipt of thisnotification, the transaction-based system P2 or information-basedsystem P1, which receives the notification, further notifies the requestmanagement center S that the processing has been completed for the datautilization request through the network N1 and the like (S616).

Upon receipt of the notification, the request management center Srecognizes that the processing has been completed for the datautilization request. Also, the channel-based system P0 is notified tothat effect as required through the network N1 or the like (S617). Inthis way, the channel-based system P0 recognizes that the processingcorresponding to the message has been completed.

In the foregoing processing, the request management center S monitorsthe information-based system P1, transaction-based system P2,information-based database D1 and transaction-based database D2 foroperating conditions by a function later described to transmit a datautilization request to the channel-based database D0, for example, whenthe information-based system P1 and transaction-based system P2 or theinformation-based database D1 and transaction-based database D2 havesmall processing loads. In this way, the information system is operatedin an efficient manner.

The request management center S can store and accumulate receivedmessages to execute processing corresponding to the respective datautilization request messages. The processing is, for example, aprocessing request to the information-based system P1, transaction-basedsystem P2, information-based database D1, transaction-based database D2,and the like.

An order in which the processing corresponding to respective messages isexecuted is set in various ways. For example, the processing isperformed in accordance with a FIFO (First in First Out) scheme, as isthe case with a general data cuing scheme, in accordance with prioritiesspecified in association with the messages, preferentially for thosemessages which satisfy certain conditions, and the like.

The request management center S also receives information transmittedfrom the information-based system P1, transaction-based system P2,information-based database D1 and transaction-based database D forindicating whether or not these can accept a processing request from therequest management center S, and can determine based on this informationwhether or not the execution request or the data utilization requestcorresponding to the message should be transmitted.

The request management center S also has a function of storing amessage, receiving a processing completion notice for a data utilizationrequest corresponding to a certain message, and then transmitting a datautilization request corresponding to the other message stored therein.

The request management center S also comprises a function oftransmitting the execution request and the data utilization request inaccordance with operating situations of the information-based system P1,transaction-based system P2, information-based database D1 andtransaction-based database D2.

The request management center S further comprises a function of storinga correspondence of predetermined identification information to one ormore of the information-based system P1 or transaction-based system P2,and comparing the identification information, when it is included in thereceived message, with the correspondence to transmit the datautilization request to a system which is corresponded to theidentification information.

On the other hand, the access intermediation center P0 comprises afunction of transmitting a massage, a data utilization request, and anexecution request corresponding to the access request in accordance withoperating situations of the information-based system P1,transaction-based system P2, information-based database D1 andtransaction-based database D2.

The access intermediation center P0 also comprises a function of storinga correspondence of predetermined identification information to one ormore of the information-based system P1 or transaction-based system P2,and comparing the predetermined identification, when it is included inthe access request received from the terminal T, with the correspondenceto transmit the processing execution request to the information-baseddatabase D1 or transaction-based database D2 which is corresponded tothe identification information.

The identification information is, for example, information whichidentifies the source of the access request.

Incidentally, the systems and databases described above are notnecessarily applied to such fields as a transaction system and aninformation system, but the present invention can be applied to anyother service to which the systems and databases are applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an informationsystem which is described as a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

The configuration illustrated in FIG. 8 is basically the same as theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 1.

In this information system, description will be made on processingperformed when the information-based system P1 needs data in the dataprovision system D2.

First, the information-based system P1 transmits a request for utilizingdata in the data provision system D2 through the network N1 (S110). Onthe other hand, the transaction-based system P2, which has received thedata utilization request, transmits a processing execution request(S111) corresponding to the data utilization request to thetransaction-based database D2 through the network N2. Here, theexecution request may include any of processing such as a search,update, delete and filtering, by way of example.

Upon receipt of the execution request, the data provision system D2transmits this execution request and data stored in D2 to the dataprovision system D1 through the network N2 (S113) (S112).

Upon receipt of the execution request and the data, theinformation-based database D1 performs the processing in accordance withthe execution request, and stores data which is generated as a result.Subsequently, the information-based system P1 accesses theinformation-based database D1 to utilize the data stored therein.

In this processing, the data transfer from the transaction-baseddatabase D2 to the information-based database D1 is mainly performedthrough the network N2. Also, since the data transfer is mainlyperformed between the information-based database D1 andtransaction-based database D2, resources of the information-based systemP1 and transaction-based system P2 will not be consumed during the datatransfer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the informationsystem P1 which is described as an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention. The configuration in FIG. 9 is basically the same as that inthe seventh embodiment except that the request management center S isconnected to the network N1.

Description will be made on the operation of the information system whenthe information-based system P1 needs data in the data provision systemD2, as is the case with the seventh embodiment.

First, the information-based system P1 transmits a message forrequesting utilization of data in the transaction-based database D2 tothe request management center S through the network N1 (S210). Uponreceipt of the message, the request management center S transmits a datautilization request corresponding to the message to thetransaction-based system P2 through the network N1 (S211).

Upon receipt of the data utilization request, the transaction-basedsystem P2 transmits a processing execution request corresponding to thedata utilization request to the transaction-based database D2 throughthe network N2 (S212). Here, the execution request may include any ofprocessing such as a search, update, delete and filtering, by way ofexample.

Upon receipt of the execution request, the transaction-based system D2transmits this execution request and data stored in D2 to theinformation-based database D1 through the network N2 (S214) (S213).

Upon receipt of the data, the information-based database D1 performs theprocessing in accordance with the execution request, and stores datagenerated as a result. Subsequently, the information-based system P1accesses the information-based database D1 to utilize the data storedtherein.

In the foregoing processing, the action of the request management centerS is the same as that in the second embodiment.

Also, in the processing in this embodiment, the data transfer from thetransaction-based database D2 to the information-based database D1 ismainly performed through the network N2. Therefore, the traffic will notbe increased on the network N1. Also, since the data transfer isbasically performed between the information-based database D1 andtransaction-based database D2, resources of the information-based systemP1 and transaction-based system P2 will not be consumed.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a data provisionsystem D. The data provision system D is a storage device system whichis comprised of a port 1001 for transmitting and receiving an executionrequest and data through the network N2; a controller 1002, and a datastorage unit 1003 for accumulating and storing data. The controller 1002comprises a control memory 1004 for storing a program; a processor 1005for executing the program; and a cache memory 1006 for temporarilystoring data stored in the data storage unit 1003. The control memory1004 stores a control program 1007 which executes processingcorresponding to a received processing request. The data storage unit1003 may be a single disk device, or a disk array having a plurality ofdisk devices. Alternatively, the data storage unit 1003 may be in aredundant configuration such as RAID. The data storage unit 1003 storesdata such as a database for use by the user.

A data utilization system P in turn is a general computer, specificallya device or system which has a processor, a cache memory, aninput/output unit, and a storage device.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary execution request transferred from thedata utilization system P to the data provision system D. An executionrequest 1100 is comprised of a processing execution site field 1101 forregistering information indicative of the data provision system D forprocessing data; a processing content field 1102 for registeringinformation indicative of the contents of processing for data; anintervening system field 1103 for registering information indicative ofa data provision system through which the execution request 1100 istransferred; and a transfer destination field 1104 for registeringinformation indicative of a data provision system to which data istransferred. The execution request 1100 in FIG. 11 is used at theexecution request S111 in FIGS. 1, 8; the execution request S212 inFIGS. 2, 9; the execution request S311 in FIG. 3; the execution requestS412 in FIG. 4; the execution request S513 in FIG. 5; and the executionrequest S613 in FIG. 6 in the aforementioned embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary execution request transferred from adata provision system to another data provision system. An executionrequest 1200 has a data field 1201 for storing data which is processedat a destination, in addition to the fields of the execution request1100 described in FIG. 11. The execution request 1200 in FIG. 12corresponds to the execution requests used in S112 in FIG. 1; S213 inFIG. 2; S312 in FIG. 3; S413 in FIG. 4; S514, S515, S516 in FIG. 5; S614in FIG. 6; data which is a combination of S113 and S112 in FIG. 8; anddata which is a combination of S214 and S213 in FIG. 9 in theaforementioned embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary procedure for processinga received execution request, performed by the controller 1002 of thedata provision system illustrated in FIG. 10 which executes the controlprogram 1007.

The controller 1002 receives an execution request 1100 or an executionrequest 1200 from a data utilization system or a data provision systemthrough the port 1001 (step 1301). Next, the controller 1002 referencesthe processing execution site field 1101 of the received executionrequest to determine a data provision system D which performs theprocessing (step 1302).

When the data provision system D which performs the processing isitself, the controller 1002 performs the processing specified in theprocessing content field 1102. When the received execution request hasthe data field 1201, the controller 1002 processes data stored in thedata field 1201 to update the data field. When the data field 1201 isnot present, the controller 1002 acquires necessary data from the datastorage unit 1003 for processing, and creates an execution request whichincludes the processing result in the data field 1201. The executionrequest also includes information for specifying data which is to beprocessed (step 1303).

When the data provision system D which performs the processing is adifferent data provision system, the controller 1002 acquires data fromthe data storage unit 1003 and adds the data to the execution request asthe data field 1201 when the received execution request does not havethe data field 1201 (step 1310).

Next, the controller 1201 references the data transfer destination field1103 in the execution request to determine whether or not thedestination data provision system D is itself (step 1304). When the datatransfer destination is itself, the data stored in the data field 1201is stored in the data storage unit 1003 (step 1308). When the datatransfer destination is a different system, the controller 1002references the intervening system field 1103 of the execution request todetermine whether the data is transferred through any intervening system(step 1305).

When the intervening system field 1103 has a value indicative of anintervening system, the controller 1002 deletes the informationindicative of the intervening system from the intervening system field1103. For example, when the intervening system field 1103 storesinformation indicative of a plurality of intervening systems in orderfrom the top of the field, the controller 1002 selects the informationstored at the top for deletion from the intervening system field 1103(step 1306). Subsequently, the controller 1002 transfers the executionrequest to the deleted intervening system (step 1307). When there is noinformation indicative of intervening systems, the controller 1002transfers the execution request to the data provision system D describedin the transfer destination field 1103 (1309).

In the following, description will be made how the processing in FIG. 13is specifically performed in each of the data provision systems in therespective embodiments described above.

First, description will be made on the processing executed in the dataprovision system D (hereinafter called the “source.” Thetransaction-based DB in the first embodiment) which first receives theexecution request, as illustrated in the first embodiment. In thisevent, an execution request 1110, specifically, an execution request1110 a is sent from the data utilization system P2 to the source. Uponreceipt of the execution request 1110 a, the source initiates theprocessing illustrated in FIG. 13. First, the source receives theexecution request 1110 a (step 1301). Next, the source references theprocessing execution site field 1101 of the execution request 1110 a. Inthis event, the value stored in the processing execution site field 1110is D2, so that the processing execution site is the source (step 1302).Next, the source performs the processing specified in the processingcontent field 1102 of the execution request 1110 a. In this event, sincethe execution request 1110 a is not given the data field 1201, thesource acquires necessary data from the data storage unit 1003 possessedby the source to perform the processing described in the processingcontent field 1102 (in this example, sort and totalization), and createsa processing request 1210 a which reflects the result. The processeddata is stored in the data field 1201 of the processing request 1210 a(step 1303).

Next, the source references the transfer destination field 1104 of theprocessing request 1201 a to determine whether or not the transferdestination is the source (step 1304). In this event, since the valuestored in the transfer destination field 1104 is D1 which does notindicate the source, the source determines with reference to theintervening system field 1103 whether or not there are interveningsystems (step 1305). In this event, since the intervening system field1103 stores no value, the source transfers the processing request 1210 ato the data provision system D1 described in the data transferdestination field 1104 through the network N2 (step 1309).

Next, description will be made on the specific processing procedure inFIG. 13 in the data provision system D1 which receives the processingrequest 1210 a from the source. Upon receipt of the processing request1210 a (step 1301), the data provision system D1 determines a processingexecution site (step 1302). In this event, since the processingexecution site field 1101 has a value D2 which does not indicate thedata provision system D1 itself, the data provision system D1 determinesa transfer destination (step 1304). In this event, since the valuestored in the transfer destination field 1104 is D1 which indicates thedata provision system D1 itself, the data provision system D1 storesdata stored in the data field 1201 of the processing request in the datastorage unit 1003 of the data provision system D1 (step 1308). As aresult, a data transfer and exchange can be enabled only by the dataprovision system D and network N2, thereby reducing a load on the datautilization system P and first network N1.

Next, description will be made on the data processing performed in adata provision system D which eventually receives a processing request(hereinafter, the “target.” The information system DWH in the seventhembodiment), as illustrated in the seventh embodiment.

In this event, an execution request as indicated by 1110 b in FIG. 11 isfirst sent from the data utilization system P2 to the source. Uponreceipt of the execution request 1110 b (step 1301), the sourcereferences the processing execution site field 1101 of the executionrequest 110 b. In this event, the value is D1 (target), indicating thatthe processing execution site is not the source (step 1302). Therefore,the source next determines a data transfer destination (step 1304). Inthis event, the value stored in the transfer destination field 1104 isD1 (target) but not the source, so that the source determines whether ornot there are intervening systems. In this event, since no value isstored in the intervening system field 1103, the source determines thatthere are no intervening systems (step 1305). Subsequently, the sourcetransfers data to the transfer destination (target). However, since theexecution request 1110 a is not given the data field 1201, the sourceacquires the data from the data storage unit 1003, adds the acquireddata to the processing request 1110 b to create a processing request1210 b. Then, the source transfers the processing request 1210 b to atarget described in the data transfer destination field 1104 using thenetwork N2 (step 1309).

Upon receipt of the processing request 1210 b from the source (step1310), the target determines the processing execution site (step 1302).In this event, since the value stored in the processing execution sitefield 1101 is D1 indicative of the target, the target performs theprocessing described in the processing content field 1102. In thisevent, since the processing request 1210 b has the data field 1201, thetarget processes the data stored in the data field 1201 (step 1303).Next, the target determines the transfer destination (step 1304). Inthis event, since the value stored in the transfer destination field1104 is D1 indicative of the target, the target stores the data storedin the data field 1201 of the processing request 1210 a in the datastorage unit 1003 possessed by itself (step 1308). In this way, thetarget performs the conversion processing which involves a high load,thereby making it possible to avoid affecting a data utilization systemwhich accesses the source.

According to the present invention, the information system providedthereby can accomplish more efficient operations.

While the foregoing description has been made on the embodiments, itshould be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to them, but a variety of modifications andalternations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

1. A data access method comprising the steps of: transmitting a firstrequest, from a first server device connected to a first network to asecond server device connected to a second network, asking for usage ofdata which have been stored in a first storage device connected to thefirst network, the second server device and the first storage devicebeing connected via the second network; transmitting a second request,in response to a reception of the first request at the second serverdevice, from the second server device to the first storage device,asking for data processing in accordance with the first request;processing the data at the first storage device upon receipt of thesecond request; and transmitting data processed at the first storagedevice to a second storage device after completion of processing datavia the second network to reduce traffic in the first network, the datatransmitted to the second storage device being used by the first serverdevice.
 2. A data access system comprising: a first server deviceconnected to a first network for transmitting a first request; a secondserver device connected to a second network for receiving the firstrequest transmitted from the first server device, and for transmitting asecond request in response to the first request; a first storage deviceconnected to the first network, the second server device and the firststorage device being connected via the second network for receiving thesecond request transmitted from the second server device, for processingdata which have been stored therein according to the second request, andfor transmitting the data processed; and a second storage device forreceiving the data transmitted from the first storage device via thesecond network to reduce traffic in the first network.
 3. The dataaccess system according to claim 2, wherein the first request istransmitted through a first network, and wherein the second request andthe data processed at the first storage device are transmitted through asecond network.
 4. The data access system according to claim 2, whereinthe second storage device comprises a plurality of storage units, eachof the plurality of units sequentially receiving the data.
 5. A dataaccess system comprising: a first server device for transmitting a firstrequest; a second server device for receiving the first requesttransmitted from the first server device, and for transmitting a secondrequest in response to the first request; a first storage device forreceiving the second request transmitted from the second server device,for processing data which have been stored therein according to thesecond request, and for transmitting the data processed; a secondstorage device for receiving the data transmitted from the first storagedevice; and a third server device provided between the first serverdevice and the second server device for provisionally receiving thefirst request directed to the second server device, for monitoring aload for processing data at the first storage device, and fortransmitting the first request toward the second server device inaccordance with the load monitored.
 6. A data access system comprising:a first server device for transmitting a first request through a firstnetwork; a second server device for receiving the first requesttransmitted from the first server device, and for transmitting a secondrequest in response to the first request through a second network to afirst storage device at which data are processed according to the secondrequest and the data processed thereat are transmitted through thesecond network; a third server device provided between the first serverdevice and the second server device for provisionally receiving thefirst request, for monitoring a load for processing data at the firststorage device, and for transmitting the first request tentativelyreceived thereat in accordance with the load monitored toward the secondserver device through the second network; a second storage deviceincluding a plurality of storage units for receiving the datatransmitted from the first storage unit.